SOS Business Search

Idaho Secretary of State office — contact, fees & licensing

Updated August 2026

Quick Answer

The Idaho Secretary of State's Business Services Division registers all business entities, processes UCC filings, and administers trademarks. All business entity filings can be completed online through the SOSBiz portal; paper forms are published on the Business Forms page and incur an additional $20 manual processing surcharge on top of the base filing fee.

Open Official Idaho Secretary of State Portal ↗

Office contact

Street address
450 N. 4th Street, Boise, ID 83702
Mailing address
P.O. Box 83720, Boise, ID 83720-0080
Business Services phone
(208) 334-2301
UCC phone
(208) 334-3191
Business Services contact form
Contact Business Services (web form)
Main office email
secretary@sos.idaho.gov
Office hours
Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Mountain Time
Filing portal
sosbiz.idaho.gov
Business services hub
sos.idaho.gov — Business Services

Business Services no longer publishes a direct email

The Idaho SOS Business Services Division now routes inquiries through a web contact form rather than a published business@sos.idaho.gov mailbox. Use the Business Services contact form above, or call (208) 334-2301 (business filings) or (208) 334-3191 (UCC & liens) directly. The office's general email, secretary@sos.idaho.gov, still reaches the main administration line.

Entity formation and filing fees

Idaho publishes per-form base filing fees on its Business Forms page; paper submissions add a flat $20 manual processing fee on top of the base fee (Idaho Code §30-21-214). Filing online through SOSBiz charges only the base fee and skips the manual processing surcharge. Verify current amounts at sos.idaho.gov/business-forms or in the SOSBiz filing wizard before filing.

Domestic LLC — Certificate of Organization

Fee (online / paper)
$100 online / $120 paper (+$20 manual fee)

Domestic For-Profit Corporation — Articles of Incorporation (General Business)

Fee (online / paper)
$100 online / $120 paper (+$20 manual fee)

Domestic Nonprofit Corporation — Articles of Incorporation

Fee (online / paper)
$30 online / $50 paper (+$20 manual fee)

Foreign Entity — Registration Statement

Fee (online / paper)
$100 online / $120 paper (+$20 manual fee)

Amendment (LLC, corporation, or foreign registration)

Fee (online / paper)
$30 online / $50 paper (+$20 manual fee)

Name Reservation (4 months)

Fee (online / paper)
$20 online / $40 paper (+$20 manual fee)

Dissolution / Statement of Dissolution

Fee (online / paper)
No base fee online / $20 manual fee if filed on paper

Annual Report

Fee (online / paper)
No fee

Credit card processing fee (any online card payment)

Fee (online / paper)
$1.00 non-refundable processing fee + 2.5% transaction fee

Idaho annual reports carry no filing fee, online or by mail — a notable exception to most other states. Businesses that file frequently can open a Tyler Idaho subscriber account ($95 annual subscription fee) for consolidated monthly invoicing instead of paying per-transaction card fees; this replaced the prior "Access Idaho" payment-account branding. Checks or money orders payable to "Idaho Secretary of State" avoid the card processing fee entirely.

UCC filing, notary, and apostille services

The Secretary of State also handles UCC filings, notary commissions, and document authentication:

  • UCC search and filing — search is available online; filing costs $6 for a 1–2 page document or $12 for longer ones, plus a $20 surcharge for paper submissions.
  • Notary public commissions — a $30 filing fee for the application and bond (waived for state employees); commissions run 6 years.
  • Apostilles and authentications — $10 per document, by appointment only.

Source: Idaho Secretary of State UCC, notary, and apostille pages (sos.idaho.gov).

Key Idaho state licensing agencies

Idaho State Tax Commission

What it covers
Sales tax, use tax, income tax withholding, travel and convention tax; seller's permit registration

Idaho Bureau of Occupational Licenses (IBOL)

What it covers
Professional licensing and contractor registration for regulated occupations in Idaho
Website
ibol.idaho.gov

Idaho Business Portal

What it covers
One-stop hub for unemployment insurance, income tax withholding, sales tax, and other employer accounts — separate from SOS entity filing

Idaho Department of Labor

What it covers
Unemployment insurance registration, labor law compliance, OSHA consultation
Website
labor.idaho.gov

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Idaho charge an annual report fee for businesses?

No — Idaho annual reports carry no filing fee, whether filed online or by mail, a notable exception compared to most other states' business registries.

How much more does it cost to file a paper business form in Idaho instead of online?

Paper submissions add a flat $20 manual processing fee on top of the base filing fee (Idaho Code §30-21-214). An LLC Certificate of Organization, for example, costs $100 online but $120 on paper.

How can I avoid Idaho's credit card processing fee when filing online?

Online card payments carry a $1.00 non-refundable processing fee plus a 2.5% transaction fee. Paying by check or money order payable to 'Idaho Secretary of State' avoids this entirely; frequent filers can also open a $95/year Tyler Idaho subscriber account for consolidated invoicing.

Compare Other States

Entity search rules, fees, and offices are set state by state. These are the states closest to Idaho — useful if you're comparing how a neighboring state runs the same process.

Helpful Guides

What Is a Registered Agent, and Who Can Be One?

Every LLC and corporation is required to name one — here's what the job actually involves and who's eligible.

Certificate of Good Standing: What It Is and How to Get One

A one-page proof that your LLC or corporation is current with the state — what it's for, what it costs, and how to request one.

How to Dissolve an LLC: The State Filing Process, Step by Step

Closing an LLC the right way means more than just walking away — here's the filing sequence every state expects.

LLC vs. Corporation: Which Structure Fits Your Business?

Both are formed with the same state office — the real differences show up in taxes, ownership, and how much paperwork you're signing up for.

Articles of Incorporation vs. Articles of Organization: What's the Difference?

Both documents create a legal business entity with the state — the difference comes down to which type of entity you're forming.

How Much Does It Cost to Start an LLC? Formation Fees by State

State filing fees for forming an LLC range from under $50 to $500 — see the base cost in your state and how it compares to forming a corporation.

LLC Annual Report Fees and Deadlines by State

Every state has its own rules for keeping an LLC in good standing — see your state's report frequency, fee, and due date at a glance.

Business License Search: What It Covers and How to Check

Registering an entity with the state isn't the same as holding a license to operate it — here's where licenses actually come from.

UCC Filing Search: How to Check for Liens on a Business

Uniform Commercial Code filings show which lenders have a claim on a company's assets — here's how to search them and what the results mean.